Eric Boyles named to Shrine Bowl team

Eric Boyles last week joined Bluffton High teammate Michael Grant on the South Carolina squad for the 75th Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Boyles originally was a Shrine Bowl alternate selection and was named to the team at the last minute because another player was injured, according to BHS Athletic Director Dave Adams.

Boyles joined both Grant and Head Coach Ken Cribb, an assistant coach for the Shrine Bowl team, in Spartanburg for a week of practice and the Saturday game against all stars from North Carolina.

“We were so excited that Michael Grant made it” as Bluffton’s first-ever Shrine Bowl selection; “Eric was an alternate, so now we have two plus Ken,” Adams said.

“We’ve been here eight years, but sometimes if you don’t have team success individuals don’t get recognized,” the AD said. “They deserve the individual recognition, but the team’s success helps them get there — it paved the way.”

Both seniors, wingback Boyles and linebacker Grant were key players as the Bobcats went 10-0 in the regular season and advanced all the way to the Class 3A state championship game, finishing with a 14-1 record.

Boyles was a multi-threat cog in Bluffton’s pistol offense. He caught 59 passes for 1,039 yards and 14 touchdowns; he ran 65 times for 444 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Grant led the Bluffton defense with 141 tackles, 7 sacks and 5 interceptions.

Adams said Thursday he had talked by phone to Cribb, who reported that many college football coaches were scouting the 44 players on each of the South Carolina and North Carolina all-star teams.

The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas is the nation’s oldest high school all-star football game. Played the third week in December, it benefits the Greenville Unit Shriners Hospital for Children and 21 other Shriners Hospitals across the nation.

The 75th Shrine Bowl game was played Saturday in Gibbs Stadium at Wofford College in Spartanburg.